Effect of mitomycin C exposure time on refractive results, pain, and corneal haze after photorefractive keratectomy.

PURPOSE: To compare clinical outcomes associated with different intraoperative mitomycin C exposure times during photorefractive keratectomy for myopia and astigmatism correction.

METHODS

This prospective, comparative, contralateral-eye study included 41 patients (82 eyes), comprising 28 eyes with ablation <60µm and 13 eyes with ablation >60µm, who underwent photorefractive keratectomy with varying mitomycin C application times based on ablation depth. In eyes with ablation <60µm, mitomycin C was applied for 15 s in one eye and 30 s in the fellow eye. In eyes with ablation >60µm, mitomycin C was applied for 30 s in one eye and 60 s in the fellow eye. Outcomes included visual acuity, postoperative pain (visual analog scale), subjective tearing, corneal haze, and refractive results at 3 months.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were observed between mitomycin C application times within either group for postoperative pain, tearing, visual acuity, refractive outcomes (spherical, cylindrical, and spherical equivalent), or haze prevalence (p>0.05 for all comparisons). Visual acuity improved in all groups, and no eyes lost ≥2 lines of corrected distance visual acuity.

CONCLUSIONS

Shorter mitomycin C exposure times (15 or 30 s) appear to be as effective and safe as longer durations (30 or 60 s) for haze prevention after photorefractive keratectomy without compromising refractive outcomes or increasing postoperative discomfort at 3-month follow-up.